Blue Earth plans to widen Second Street

BLUE EARTH – Blue Earth City Council has set a public hearing for 5 p.m. March 3 to discuss a $2 million construction project on Second Street, on the north side of the Faribault County Courthouse.

Currently, the street is 52 feet wide and has 37 angled parking stalls on both the north and south side – but there’s a problem.

“It’s really too narrow for two lanes of traffic,” said City Engineer Wes Brown.

He presented three options to the council:

o Widen the street to 60 feet to maintain angled parking on both sides, resulting in 33 stalls. The additional 8 feet would be added on the north side, which is residential. That would mean taking out several trees.

o Maintain the 52-foot width and keep angled parking on the south side, but have parallel parking on the north side, reducing the number of stalls to 27.

“What I’d recommend is angled on the south and parallel on the north,” Brown said.

“That was the recommendation of the Street Committee too,” said Kathy Bailey, city administrator.

The council discussed other possibilities, including making the block a one-way. Brown said that option is not feasible.

Councilman John Huisman asked Faribault County Commissioner John Roper about truck traffic on the street. Roper said there is no truck traffic, but there is prisoner unloading for court dates. However that’s usually done on Nicollet Street.

Roper said there are about 60 employees at the courthouse who need parking.

“I’m in favor of expanding that street 8 feet,” said Councilman John Gartzke, arguing that the city has to look to the future. “Going down that street now, it’s tough.”

Mayor Rick Scholtes suggested putting in a parking lot on some land the county owns across Main Street from the courthouse. The lot is about 60 feet on one side. It could be designated parking for courthouse employees, Roper added.

The council approved the option of widening the street and set the March 3 hearing at the Public Safety Building.

In a work session, the council discussed funding for the city fire department, and how much the townships should contribute toward equipment since the Blue Earth helps outside the city.